The Hound | May 4

Rubio heads to Rome to meet Pope Leo, federal court blocks abortion pills by mail, and election deniers are running for office in 2026.

May 04, 2026

Hi there,

It’s Monday. The Supreme Court restored nationwide access to abortion pills through telehealth for one week after a lower federal court ruling prohibited mailing the medication, showing how the issue is still alive and active before the 2026 midterms. Trump dispatches Marco Rubio to meet with Pope Leo in the midst of the administration’s aggression toward Vatican City. And across the country—and in key swing states—election deniers are running for positions that would give them direct control over how elections are administered.

These roles—secretaries of state, election boards, and other oversight positions—carry enormous power over voter access, ballot counting, and certification of results. This is not just another campaign cycle; it is a test of whether election systems will remain impartial. Yet too much media coverage treats these candidates as typical political contenders, focusing on campaign dynamics, polling, or partisan competition rather than clearly addressing the implications of their views.

The public deserves reporting that makes the stakes of these candidacies unmistakably clear.

Read about this, and more, with today’s stories:

Until next time,

Harry from The Hound

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